The importance of qualitative evaluation combined with other evaluation methods

This text promotes a discussion on the "qualitative evaluation" of social and health and social programs and projects and their various approaches, but without separating this technical, academic and social activity from the context of the evaluative research. This article emphasizes the historical questions of the practice of assessment, the main concepts of evaluation, the types, the stages and its social, pragmatic and ethical sense. From the standpoint of qualitative assessment, the theoretical foundations, the modalities and the issues of validity are discussed, specifically considering the triangulation of perspectives and the inclusion of all stakeholders in the process. The proposal called the RAP (Rapid Assessment to Projects) goes deeper. The conclusion of the text leads to the consideration of the importance of including diverse actors, with their own beliefs and expectations, in the evaluation process so that it becomes an act of learning for all involved.